Feeding water to boilers.



N- 672,246- Pamnted Apr. la, |901. A. G. wATEnHousE.

FEEDING WATER T0 BOILERS.

(Application tiled OctV 18, 1900.! No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

1H; wmys evans co. pnorovumo wAsHlNa-mu. D4 c No. 672,246. Patented Apr. I6, |90I. A. G. WATERHDUSE.

FEEDING WATER T0 BOILERS.

(Application-led Oct. 16, 1900.? (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

@i www ms mams PETERS co. vnouumo.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 672,246. Patented Apr. I6, |90I. A. G. WATERHUUSE.

FEEDINB WATER T0 BUILERS.

Application med occ. 1e, 190m.; (No M odel.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

1w: mms PETERS cu. moro-umn.. wAsHlNcoN. D. c.

No. 672,246. Patented pr. I6, |901.

A. G. WATERHUUSE.

FEEDING WATER T0 BGILERS.

(Application filed Oct. 10, 1900,; (No Model.) 4 Shaets-Shee 4.

WMWSSQS, I

TH: ndms PETERS co. mofovuwu.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

nireA rares artist @tripa ADDISON G. WATERHOUSE, OF SPRINGFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA.

FEIEDING WATER TO BOlLERS'.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 672,246, dated April 16. 1901.

Application filed (lctober 16, 1900. Serial NoA 33,217. No model.)

'l'.'o CtZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, ADDISON G. WATER- HOUsE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the township of Springfield, county of Delaware, State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding Water into Steam-Boilers,of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to perform the work economically of feeding water into steam-boilers by means which will employ steam from the boiler to act directly upon the surface of the water to be forced into the boiler, thereby returning all of the heat which is employed in the form of steam back to the boiler with the water fed into it; also, to do away with the use of steam-pumps and avoid the loss due to friction, wear, and leakage common to both pumps and engines and the loss of steam common tothe use of steam-engines employed for working pumps.

My invention consists of means for carrying out the work of automatically feeding water into a steam-boiler by employing the difference between the specific gravity of a column of water and a column of steam when both are in communication with and under the same pressure as the steam in the boiler for causing the water to fiow into the boiler by gravitation and be displaced by steam and by condensing the steam produce a partial vacuum by which more Water will be drawn into the apparatus and confined, so that it in turn will be acted upon by the steam and forced into the boiler by means whichwill be repeated automatically. l

My invention also embraces means for maintaining a constant water-level in a steamboiler by making the different operations dependent upon such water-level being maintained below a fixed point or level, such as described in my former application, Serial No. 27,232, filed August 17,1300, in such a way as to carry out my invention, as fully set forth by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l shows diagrammatically all parts of a com plete apparatus. Fig. 2 shows parts of an apparatus in section. Fig. 3 shows an apparatus for feeding Water from a steaincondenser back into a steam-boiler. Figs. 4E, 5,

6, and 7 are modified details shown in section. Fig. S shows an apparatus for feeding asteamboiler combined with a steam and vacuum pump.

Fig. l shows an apparatus consisting of a steam-boiler B, from which steam is supplied and into which water is forced, so that the level of such water in the boiler will be main tained constantly at a point represented by the water-line W. The apparatus connected to the boiler for performing this work automatically consists of the pumping-tank P, placed above the level of the water in the boiler B and adapted for being tilled with water from a source of supply l, coming through the lifting-pipe 2, check-valve 3, and pipe P' by means of a vacuum formed in the tank P, which water then in P is then placed under the same pressure as the steam in the boiler B by admitting steam from the boiler through pipes Si2 and S and the automatic steam-valve S and pipe P2 into the tank P and upon the surface of the Watertherein. This will place the water in tank P under the same pressure as Water in the boiler B, and while under this pressure and being at a higher level than the water in the boiler it will flow by gravitation from the higher to the lower level by passing back through the pipe P", which leads from the bottom of the tank P, then through the check-valve 4, opening toward the boiler,then through pipe 5 into the drum B, and into the boiler B. As soon as the water has left the tank P the steam leading to it is shut off. This is immediately followed by condensation, which slightly lowers the steam-pressure in tankP below the pressure in the boiler B. This difference of pressure, even when very slight, would cause a limited amount of the water in the drum B before it had passed into the boiler and become heated to ow back through the pipe 5, valve L, tube b', and part of the steam-pipe Pa into the top of the tank P, thereby completely condensing the steam in P and forming a vacuum therein, which would draw a fresh supply of water from l through pipe 2, check-valve 3, and pipe P and refill the tank P, when it would again be ready for another operation.

'lo perform the above work automatically, certain operations are to be successively performed, which are in the following order: To start with, the tank P is assumed to be illed with water. Means are then employed which are made dependent upon the tank P being filled with water for causing the steam to be let on from the boiler B to the surface of the water in P. Then means are employed resulting from or dependent upon the water being all or partly forced from the tank P for causing the steam from the boiler B to be shut off. Then the fall of the pressure in P which follows the shutting off of the steam allows condensing-waterunder pressure at or near that of the steam in the boiler to enter the tank P and condense the steam, thereby forming a vacuum therein, which Vacuum is employed for refilling the tank P with water from the source of supply, and again employing means resulting from or dependent upon the tank P being filled with water for letting on steam, so that these operations will be automatically repeated. Various means and forms of apparatus, together with details thereof, are shown for carrying out these different operations involved in this work which I reserve as subjects for other applications for Letters Patent, including the valves and forms of construction employed for performing the diiferent kinds of work S2 each side of the diaphragm S0.

described, as described and claimed in my said former application, Serial No. 27,232.

The work of letting on and shutting olf the steam is performed by the automatic steamvalve S. (Shown in Fig. 2.) This valve S is shown in an enlarged section and consists of two shells S4 and S5, bolted together, with a iexible diaphragm SG placed between them, so as to form two separate :recesses S7 and The recess S7 has an inlet steam-passage S0 and an outlet-passage S10. The other recess S8 has a projecting hollow rhub S11, which is closed by the gland S12, so as to form S8 into a closed recess having a tube G leading to it, so that if steam or water should enter the recess through this tube G' under pressure it would y hragm S6 is a valve-stem S15 which is rop n a vided with a valve S14 in t-he recess S7, which closes the steam-inlet S0, and this stem also forms the guide S10 in the recess S8 and is secured to the diaphragm S6 by the nut S12. Surrounding the guide S16is a pressure-spring S17, which is backed by the gland S12 and presses upon the nut S18 and diaphragm S0, so as to force the valve S14 hard upon its seat and prevent steam from entering the inlet S0 against any steam-pressure which may be produced in the pipe leading to the inlet S0. The action of this valve is as follows: The steam is normally prevented from entering by the pressure of the spring S17, owing to the steam in S0 exerting a pressure upon such a small surface as that offered by the valve S14; but if a back pressure should be exerted through the outlet S10 in the recess S7 upon the greater surface oered by the flexible diaphragm S0 it would overcome the pressure of the spring S17 and by bulging the diaphragm toward the spring raise the valve S14 and admit steam through S0 into the recess S7 and out through the outlet S10, and if the steam passing out at S10 had to perform any Work by passing out under pressure it would exert a corresponding back pressure upon the diaphragm S6 and keep the valve S14 open. If at this stage an opposing pressure should be odered upon the opposite side of, the diaphragm S6 by steam or water entering the tube G' into the recess S8, it would by the aid of the spring S17 overcome the back pressure in the recess S7 and bulge the diaphragm S1i toward the recess S7 and close the valve S14. This would shut off the steam and cause the back pressure of the steam passing out through S10 to die out, so that if the pressure produced in recess S8 through tube G was then removed the pressure offered by the spring S17 would keep the valve S14 closed. This valve S is used to let on and shutoff the steam by means which will accord with the rise and fall of the water in the pumpingtank P, (shown in reduced size,) which work is done as follows: When the tank P is nearly refilled with water through pipe'P by means of a vacu um, as stated, the condensing-water, which continues to flow in a limited quantity under pressure through the valve L'and tube into the top of the tank P, soon forms a pressure therein, and this pressure is communicated through the pipe P2 and outlet S10 into the recess S7 of the Valve S', which pressure acting upon its diaphragm S6 lets ou steam, as described, and the back pressure of this steam, produced by acting upon the water in P, keeps the valve open untilthe steam forces the water in P down to the level, which would cause the float G to fall, and thereby, acting through its pivoted lever G2, would open the small valve G2 and allow either water or steam to pass through tube G into the valve-recess S8 at a' pressure equal to the pressure in tank P, and this pressure, together with that of the spring S17, would close the valve S14, as stated, which would be followed by a fall of pressure and finally by a dying out of the back pressure in the valve-recess S7, which would enable the spring S17 to keep the valve S14 closed after the opposing pressure exerted through tube G died away. So by the means stated, which are dependent upon the tank P being filled by or emptied of water, the steam would be letl on when the tank P was filled with water and shut oli' after the water was forced from it.

Fig. 2 also shows an enlarged sectional View of an automatic condensing-valve L,composed of two shells L and L2, screwed together, having a flexible diaphragm L5 placed between them. The lower shell has a closed recess L3 with an inlet L0, through which condensingwater enters from any source of supply from which water can be secured at su flicient pres- ITO sure. This inlet L9 is provided witha checkvalve L5, which will at all times prevent the return of Water and by which the admission of water is regulated. The diaphragm is arranged so that when it is bulged upward the check-valve L5, which is guided by its shank L7, has a long lift, so that it will admit of the free passage of water;v but when the diaphragm L5 is bulged down it limits the lift ot' the check-valve L5 by pressing on the top of the stem L7, so that very little water can pass through. The movement of this diaphragm L5 is limited by having a bolt L11 secured to its center by means of the bolt-head L12 on one side and the nut L13 on the other. This bolt L11 extends out through the top of the shell L2 and has set-nuts L14, which by striking on the top ot' the shell L2 will limit the downward bulge of the diaphragm L5 and also limit the amount of water which can dow through the valve, as stated. There is a comparatively light spring L15 placed around the bolt L11 and arranged so that it will bulge the diaphragm L5 downward and with a force sufficient to partly check the flow ot' water through the valve when thereis no other cause opposing the flow of such water out through its outlet L10. In action the Working of this valve is as follows: When the con- (lensing-water begins to pass through it and enters the top of the tank P, it enters against a pressure of steam therein, and this pressure produces a back pressure in the valve under the diaphragm L5, which bulges it up against the spring L15 and allows a long lift to the check-valve L5 and a free passage to the water. P lowers by part of the steam it contains being condensed, the back pressure lowers and the spring L15 begins to act and limits the ow of water to that just sufficient for completing condensation and producing a vacuum in P, and when such Vacuum is produced then a negative pressure or suction is imparted from the tank P to the valve L, which causes atmospheric pressure to act upon the upper surface of the diaphragm L5, which, with the aid of the spring L15, will bulge the diaphragm downward as far as the set-nuts L14 will allow it to move. These nuts can be adjusted so that the movement of the checkvalve L5, and consequently the iiow of water through the valve, will be limited to that which is just sufficient to maintain the vacuum in the tank P and cause it to refill by drawing water from its source of supply through the pipe P.

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of apparatus operated by the same general means as before described and adapted for performing the work of drawing air and water from a steam-condenser, and after first expelling the air it then forces the water back into the boiler, from which it came, in the form of steam. The apparatus includes a steam-boiler B,con nected to a steamcondenser M by a series of steam heating-pipes K, or what may repre- When the pressure in the tank sent a steam-engine or any kind of apparatus through which steam passes, and is then condensed in M, or in which steam is condensed, while its water, accompanied by air or gases, passes into LNI under a partial vacuum. and from which they are to be drawn. The apn paratus employed for doing this work is chiefly composed of two tanks, one used as a pumping-tank P, into which water is drawn by the condensation of steam and from which it is forced by the pressure of steam, and the other tank V is used as a Vacuum-tank, into which the water from the tank P is forced and then withdrawn. The details belonging to this apparatus consist ot'a steam-pipe S, provided with the automatic steam-valve S, constructed and used as described. The

4steam passes from valve S through pipe S10,

where it joins pipe P2, which leads to the top of the pumping-tank P. The water-passage through which water is forced into the boiler B leads from the bottom of the pumpingtank P through pipe P', then up through the vacuu m-tank V, and out through pipe E, water-trap T, and then down through pipes WV and W3, check-valve W1, and pipe W5 to the boiler B. The air and water are drawn from the condenser M through pipeW2,checl{-valve W', up pipe W, and through the Water-trap T and pipe E into the top of the vacuumtank V. The condensing-water iiows from the boiler through pipe C, placed as a shunt around the check-Valve W1, then through a cooling-coilC, placed in a well C2, then up through the automatic condensing-valve L, made and used as described, and then up pipes 6 and P2 into the top of the pumping-tank P. There is also a condensing suction-pipe C5, which extends from the pipe 6 into the wel] C2. This pipe is provided with a check-valve C5, opening toward pipe 6, and also a restraining-cock for limiting the amount of water which can pass, the object being to cause condensing-water to be drawn directly from the well C2 by the vacuum in tank P, so as to maintain such vacuum while itis doing its work and by so doing economize in the amount of water drawn back `from the boiler by causing the valve Lto shut this wa-` ter oii more completely after a vacu um has been started. The operation of this apparatus is as follows: To start wit-h, the tank P is filled with water, by which the valve S is caused to let on steam. This forces the water down through pipe P and up into the vacuum-tank V, which water While rising in Vforces any air which it may contain out through pipe E, water-trap'l, and discharge T', there being a check-valve in connection with this discharge T, which prevents the return of air. After the water is forced from P into V the valve S shuts off' the steam, which is then condensed in P, thereby forming avacuum, which draws the water back from V into P and produces a vacuum in V. This vacuum draws the air and water from the condensing-chamber M by way of pipe IOO IIO

I, 'A i W2, check-valve W', pipe W, water-trap T, and pipe E into V. As the water again rises in V the air is first forced out through pipe E, trap T, and discharge T'. Then the water which forms in V, which is more than it can hold after receiving the contents of P, is caused to follow the air until it reaches the water-trap T, in which a iioat is raised by this water,which actuates alvalve and closes the opening leading to the discharge T', so the escape of water is shutoff until the pressure of steam in P rises to its maximum and places the water in V at the same pressure as thatin theboilerB. ThispressureinVca-uses the water, owing to its height above the water in the boiler B, to iiow down through pipes W and W3 and check-valve W1 into the boiler B, and this flow continues until the water is forced from the tank P, when the steam is shut off and the operation is repeated.

Fig. 4 shows, partly in section, a modified form of pumping-tank P used in certain cases for performing the different operations required. In this form a float F is used, which -travels up and down the tank P with the surface of the water and may have connected to it at a distance below, by means of a rod F', a loose-fitting piston F2, which will confine the water upon which the steam acts between the float F and the piston F2 while cool water is drawn in and forced out of the lower part of the tank P. When it is not possible to use the pressure produced by the inliowing condensing-Water for causing the Valve S to let on steam, then the float F can be used to open a puppet-valve N, which will let on steam through the branch pipe N into the tank P, and then the back pressure of the steam, through the pipe S10 will cause the valve S to let on steam, which will remain on after the valve N isallowed to close by the float F lowering with the water. The same float F or the piston F2 attached to it can be used to open the valve G2 by pressing on the pivoted lever G3 while at the lower extreme of its movement, as shown by dotted lines, and thereby cause a pressure to be transmitted through the tube Gr to the valve S', which will cause the steam to be shut off, as before described.

Fig. 5 shows a modified detail of Fig. 1, which consists of a steam-pipe leading upward from a steam-boiler B. In Fig. 1 this device is shown in the form of two parallel pipes S2 and S3. The one S2 leads from a point just above the water-level W, while pipe S3 leads below that level, both joining in and continued by the steam-pipe S. In this Fig. 5 pipe S2 is represented by the outer pipe S2 and the other by thev inner pipe S3, the object of this device being to cause the apparatus to force water into the boiler whenever the water-line W falls below the lower end of pipe S2 and to stop such action when it rises to or is above this level W. The action is produced as follows: When the level of the water W is below the end of pipe S2, steam can pass up into it, and what water there is in pipes S2 and S3 will be'immediately siphoned down through pipe S3, so there will be a clear passage. for steam through pipe S2 to pipe S, which will cause the apparatus to work, as stated, by balancing a column of steam -in these pipes against a column of water in the apparatus; ,but as soon as the water-line W rises in the boiler to or above the end of pipe S2 water'will pass up this pipe, which will stop the action of the apparatus by causing the weight of the water in the steam-pipes to balance the water in the ap-4 paratus and prevent the action due to gravitation, so that no Water will be forced into the boiler until the water-level W again falls below the end of the pipe S2, so that steam can again enter and cause the water to be siphoned out and be replaced byy steam, which will again start the apparatus into action.

Fig. 6 shows a float F placed inside of a pum ping-tank P, which float can be made iiat or of any form or material which will stand the external pressure which it is subjected to and be light enough to float upon the surface of the Water as it rises and falls inhtank P, one object of this float being to insulate the larger part of the water-surface from the steam, thereby reducing the condensation which would result from such contact. c

Fig. 7 shows a modified form of Fig. 6,in which the float F is provided with a tube F3 for conducting the condensing-water which enters at P2 down through the hot water which surrounds the float to the cooler water at the lower end of the tank P, the object in this case being to keep the surface water as hot as it is possible to keep it and still be able to form above its surface a sufficient vacuum to draw in and fill tank P with water from the source of supply, which supply may be above or below the apparatus. Therefore the strength of such vacuum would have to correspond with the relative levels of tank P and that of its source of supply. In order to increase the surface heat as much as possible and still avoid the resulting evaporation which heated water would undergo it' left on the surface, therefore I employ such means as the insulating-iioat or any other which will effect the desired result, such as shown in Fig. 7, by extending the tube F3 downward and fixing athin light piston-disk F4 at its lower end, which need not be large enough to cause friction by touching the sides of tank P, but large enough to prevent the hot water above F 4 from circulating and mixing with the cooler water below F4, and in order to secure a still greater degree of economy by maintaining a higher'degree of heat in the top of P than is practical when water is used then I use a body or stratum of non-volatile oil or like material which will iioat upon the surface of the water in P and still allow the condensing-water from P2 and the water produced by con- IOO IIO

densation to sink through the oil to the waterV below. When oil is used, a longer tank is used, as P in Fig. 4, so that as cold water passes in and out at the bottom there will be a large body of Warm water remaining in it constantly, so as to cause the oil to keep separated from the transient wat er b v remaining on the su rface of the retained water. To better secure the retention of oil within the tank P, the float F, tube F3, and disk F4 may be employed, and the space between the disk lL and the float F may be partially or entirely iilled with oil, which will move up and down with the float and cause F4 to prevent a circulation and the mixing of the oil and water, while an up-and-down movement is caused by the flowing in and out of water below.

Fig. 8 shows a form of apparatus adapted for feeding water into a boiler B, while at the same time performing other work, such as forcing Water up the stand-pipe H. In this form the boiler B has a oat B', which may be placed inside or outside of the boiler, but inclosed so that it will rest upon the surface of the water, (represented by the water-line W of the boiler.) This ioat B is connected to the pivoted lever B2, which actu ates the valve B3, so as to admit or prevent water from entering the boiler as the line W changes below or above a certain level. The apparatus is constructed the same as shown in Fig. l, with the exception of the single steam-pipe S and the stand-pipe H, with the condensingpipe 6 connected thereto. In operation the vacuum is formed in P by condensing-water iiowing from the stand-pipe H through the valve L and tube 6 into P at a pressure corresponding to that at which water is raised through stand-pipe H. The steam from the boiler B, passing through the pipe S and valve S', exerts about the same pressure upon the water in P as in the boiler B, so this water would flow by gravitation into the boiler whenever the valve B3 was open. Otherwise the water in P would be forced up the standpipe H for any purposes desired. If the pressure required for forcing the water up H was less than that required to force it into the boiler B, even then while this work was going on and the valve B8 was open steam would pass into the tank P faster than water could flow out through the stand-pipe H, so that the pressure in P would equal the boiler-pressure and cause part of the water expelled from tank P to iow into the boiler as often as the valve B3 opened, so that the water-level in W would be maintained constant bythe apparatus while it was doing other work. In this or the other forms of apparatus the tank P can be placed at any desired level above the boiler B. When the work of feeding the boiler is the sole duty of the apparatus, then P need be elevated above the boiler only enough to give the water in P sufficient head to overcome the resistance offered by the valves and pipes; but when used for other work in connection with boiler-feeding, as

shown in Fig. 8, then the tank P can be placed as high as the vacu um caused by the condensation ot steam will lift water to it, which may be at a sufticient height for use when discharged out of the stand-pipe H at or near the level of tank P. In such a case a very low stearntnessure van be used in the boiler B or that just sufficient to overcome the atmospheric pressure and force steam into P, and any slight steam-pressure above atmosphere could be used to raise the water a corresponding height above P after being lifted up as high as the vacuum in P would raise it. It is also obvious that when water is fed into a boiler by the method described such water can be heated by exhaust-steam, which may be applied to most any part of the apparatus or passages through which the water Hows on its way to the boiler.

Referring to Fig. 8, the source of supply l may be above or below the boiler B. If above, then a pressure is secured which could be added to the pressure required for forcing water into the boiler, and to this pressure or elevation, due to the level of the source of supply, may be added the height to which the Water can be drawn above the supplylevel by the vacuum produced in tank P, and to this height or the pressure due to the same can be added the still higher level or pressure to which the water can be forced by the pressure due to the steam from the boiler B. Then we have a pressure in stand-pipe H due to three causes, or at least two of them, which will make the pressure in H greater than that in the boiler, so that water would dow directly back from H into B by reason of the difierence between the two pressures. case it is obvious that the pipe P' can be removed from its direct connection with tank P and be connected to the pipe H, as at the bend H2, so that while the work of forcing water up pipe H is going on the water will dow at any In such a IOO IIO

time that it is permitted to into the boiler B from the pipe H or from .the level or pressure to which the water is forced through the pipe H.

The different forms of apparatus shown represent means for practically carrying out my invention when applied to the sole Work of feeding water into boilers, as well as performing such work in conjunction with other duties, such as pumping or raising water, and they show means for performing the different actions required for carrying out my invention, which are as follows, to witz: Taking water from a source of supply above or below the level of the boiler or from where it is confined under a pressure above or below that of the atmosphere, drawing it above its source ofsupply by means ofa vacuum formed by the condensation of steam, forcing it to a still higher le vel or greater pressure by means of the pressure of steam from the boiler, condensing the steam by means `of a limited amount of water under a pressure due to its source of supply or the pressure due to its elevation caused by the vacuum and the pressure of the steam from the boilers or either of them, conserving the heat employed by insulating the surface of the water upon which the steam presses or retaining the heated water in that part of the apparatus Where the steam enters by separating it from or preventing it from combining With the cooler transient water or that drawn in and expelled from the apparatus, drawing water and air from a condensing-chamber or from where they are confined under a partial vacuum, separating such air from the water and forcing the water into the boiler by the method described, regulating the action through which the work is done, when such Work is for the sole purpose of feeding. water in the boiler, by making such action dependent upon a column of steam from the boiler being balanced against a column of water, as described, and making such column of steam dependent upon the level of the water in the boiler being belowa fixed point, causing the water to flow into the boiler by the method described through a passage which is opened or closed by means of the rise and fall of the water in the boiler above or below a determined level, and causing each of the described actions to be performed automatically in their respective order and succession.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. An apparatus for feeding water into a steam-boiler, consisting of a pumping-tank placed above the level of the water in the steam-boiler; a pipe or passage provided with a check-valve leading from a source of supply to the pum ping-tank; a pipe or passage provided with a check-valve leading from the pumping-tank to the steam-boiler into which Water is to be fed; a steam-pipe leading from the steam-boiler to the top of the pumpingtank, provided with an automatic steamvalve, possessing thev elements and connections as described, by means of which steam is let onto and shut 'oi from the pumpingtank to accord with the extreme rise and fall of water in the pumping-tank; and a condensing-water pipe or passage leading from the steam-boiler below its Water-line to the top of the pumping-tank and adapted for conducting a limited amount of condensing-water: substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of a steam and vacuum pump with a steam-boiler, consisting of a pumping-tank placed above the level of the water in the boiler, and having a supply pipe or passage, provided withacheck-valve, leading from a source of Water-supply to the pumping-tank, and a discharge pipe or passage leading from the pumping-tank, provided with a check-valve, and a branch or passage leading to the steam-boiler; a steampipe leading from the steam-boiler to the pumping-tank, provided With an automatic steam-valve having the mechanism described for letting on and shutting off steam from the to the pumping-tank, and a discharge-pas-V sage leading from the pumping-tank to a point of discharge, including a passage to the l boiler, and a steam-pipe leading from the boiler to the tank, provided with an automatic steam-valve, having the elements described for letting on and shutting off the steam to accord with the rise and fall of water in the tank; a condensing-Water passage leading from the steam-boiler at a point beloW its water-level to the pumping-tank at a point at or near its top, through which a limited amount of Water can pass from the boiler, and a branch condensing-pipe provided with a check-valve leading from a cold-water supply through which a limited amount of water can be drawn into the pumping-tank: substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

Ll. An apparatus for feeding water into a steam-boiler, consisting of-a pumping-tank placed above the level of the water in the boiler, and from which water is forced and into which it is drawn by the alternate pressure and condensation of steam therein: asupply-passage leading from a source of supply to the tank through which water can pass only from the source of supply; a discharge-passage leading from the tank and in communication with the steam-boiler, through which Water can pass only from the tank; a condensing-water passage through which a limited amount of water, discharged from the tank, can return under pressure, to the tank, thereby causing the condensation of steam in the tank; a steam-pipe leading from the boiler, through an automatic steam-Valve to the top of the tank; a tube leading from the tank to a part of the automatic steam-valve and the arrangement of such elements as described for causing the extreme lower movement of the water in the tank, to transmit a pressure from the tank to the steam-valve: substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination of a steam and vacuum pumpandasteam-boiler,consistingofapumping-tank placed above the level of the Water in the boiler, provided with a suction or supply passage, leading from the bottom of the pumping-tank to the bottom of a vacuumtank, then from the top of the vacuum-tank, through a passage provided with a checkvalve, to a condensing-chamber from which Water and air are to be drawn; a dischargepassage leading from the bottom of the pumping-tank to the bottom of the vacuum-tank,

IOO

IIO

IZO

through a passage provided with a water-trap and a check-valve to the steam-boiler, into which the water drawn from the condensingchamber is fed; a steam-pipe leading from the boiler to the top of the pumping-tank provided with au automatic steam-valve possessing the elements and connections, as described, whereby steam is let on to and shut off from the pumping-tank to synchronize with the rise and fall of water in the pumping-tank and a condensing-Water passage leading through passages, wherein the condensing- Water is cooled off, and from which a limited amount of water is conducted to the top of the pumping-tank: substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In the combination of a steam-boiler with a steam and vacuum pump, consisting of a pumping-tank placed above the level of the water in the boiler, and provided with a supply-passage leading from a source of supply to the pumping-tank; a discharge-passage leading from the tank to the steam-boiler and a si cam-passage leading from the steam-boiler to the pumping-tank provided with means for letting on and shutting off the steam to accord with the rise and fall of water in the pumping-tank-the said steam-passage consist-ing of two pipes or passages leading from the steam-boiler, one of which starts from a point below the water-level and the other from a point at or near the Water-level, the two passages uniting into a single passage at a point above the level of the Water in the boiler, and then continuing on to the pumping-tank; substantially as described.

7. In the combination of a steam-boiler with a boiler-feeding apparatus having the arrangement of elements whereby steam from the boiler draws water from a source of supply into the boiler-feeder and forces it therefrom info the steam-boiler, a steam-passage leading from the boiler to the boiler-feeder, consisting of two pipes or passages, one of which leads from the boiler at a point below its Water-level, and the other from the boiler at a point at or near the water-level, the two passages uniting into a single passage, ata point above the level of the water in the boiler, and continuing on to the boiler-feeder; substantially as set forth.

8. A steam-passage leading from a steamboiler to a boiler-feeder; consisting` of two passages leading from the steam-boiler, one of which leads from a point below the waterlevel, and the other from a point at or near the water-level, the two passages uniting at a point above the level of the water in the boiler and then continuing on through a single passage to the boiler-feeder; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In combination with a pumping-tank, from which water is forced and into which it is drawn, by the pressure and condensation of steam, as described; a oat placed within the tank, which will rise and fall with the surface of the water therein and open a valve, as the float descends with the surface of the water to the lower extreme of its movement, so that steam or water will pass through a tube or conductor to a steam-valve, whereby the steam is shut off from the tank: substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

lO. In the combination of a steam-boiler, with a steam and vacuum pump, as described, whereby the pump can be continually employed for raising water from a source of supply to a place of delivery and periodically employed for feeding water into the steamboiler; a valve actuated by the rise and fall of the surface of the water in the boiler and adapted for opening and closing the passage leading from the pum p to the boiler: substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

ll. In the combination of a steam and vacuum pump, with a steam-boiler, as described, wherein the condensing-water employed for condensing the steam in the pumping-tank is drawn from the boiler; a coil or passage placed in cool water or a cooling-well, through which the condensing-water passing hot from the boiler, will be cooled off on its way to the pu mping-tank: substantially as described.

ADDISON G. WATERHOUSE.

Witnesses:

GEO. L. G. WATERHoUsE, W. S. WATSON. 

